Valveless pump for an aquarium

ABSTRACT

A valveless pump for an aquarium having a portion suitably disposed with respect to the aquarium tank for drawing the aquarium water into the pump. The pump includes a reciprocating piston which issues a jet of aquarium water from the pump into a tube for flow back to the body of aquarium water within the tank. The pump cooperates with a filtering device for clearing the aquarium water, wherein the aquarium water may pass through the filtering device before or after the pumping action. Preferably, the pump portion extends through a wall of the aquarium tank.

United States Patent Willinger [541 VALVELESS PUMP FOR AN AQUARIUM [72]Inventor: Allan H. Willinger, New Rochelle,

[73] Assignee: Metaframe Corporation, Maywood,

52 vs. C! ..210/169 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 3/20 [58] Field of Search..210/169 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,375 1/1971Willinger ..210/169 [1 1 3,687,291 1 Aug. 29, 1972 2,748,075 5/ l 956Houlid ..210/169 2,275,428 3/ 1942 Haldeman ..210/169 2,672,845 3/1954Schnerthorst ..210/169 X Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman AssistantExaminer--T. A. Granger Att0meyFriedman & Goodman 57 ABSTRACT Avalveless pump for an aquarium having a portion suitably disposed withrespect to the aquarium tank for drawing the aquarium water into thepump. The pump includes a reciprocating piston which issues a jet ofaquarium water from the pump into a tube for flow back to the body ofaquarium water within the tank. The pump cooperates with a filteringdevice for clearing the aquarium water, wherein the aquarium water maypass through the filtering device before or after the pumping action.Preferably, the pump portion extends through a wall of the aquariumtank.

18Claims,5DrawingFigures Pmmtmum 1912 3587291 SHEET 3 0F 3 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

30 Allan H. Willinger C" 0 BY flag 2x1, L 3: L 9 m1;

ATTORNEYS VALVELESS PUMP FOR AN AQUARIUM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application,Ser. No. 754,249, filed Aug. 21, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,375.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As generally understood, the propermaintenance of an aquarium requires continuous water filtration. Inaccordance with present practice, a typical filtering device may includea separate filtering tank continuously receiving water for filtrationthrough a siphon connected to it from the aquarium tank, a conventionalair lift tube or centrifugal pump, and an outlet connected from the pumpto the aquarium tank for returning filtered water to the latter. Indevices using an air lift tube, it is usual to provide an air pumphaving inlet and outlet valves to achieve controlled fluid flow. With acentrifugal pump, the pressure gradient is relied on to achieve properfluid directional-flow. The above-mentioned application, No. 754,429,now U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,375 discloses a valveless pump disposed in aseparate filtering tank mounted on the aquarium tank, whereby theaquarium water must be siphoned into the filtering tank before beingpumped back to the aquarium tank. In the present invention there is noneed for a siphon, whereas even the separate filtering tank may beeliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pump, and moreparticularly to a valveless pump for an aquarium which cooperates with afiltering device for clearing the aquarium water. The pump includes areciprocating piston which issues a jet of water from the pump forcirculation of the aquarium water between the aquarium tank and thefiltering device. The pump is directly associated with an aquarium tankto provide an optimum, efficiently operating arrangement which enablesthe elimination of the siphon and the conventional filtering tank,wherein the pump forms a part of the aquarium tank.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved pump associated with an aquarium which overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valveless pump appliedto an aquarium tank which provides for an optimum, efliciently operatingarrangement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pump which isextremely simple and includes few parts which can get out of orderthrough operation or continued use, whereby the pumps can be readilyproduced and maintained with relatively little expense, whichnevertheless is highly efficient in operation and has a relatively longtrouble-free life.

An added object of this invention is to provide a pump which forms apart of the aquarium tank thereby eliminating the conventional filteringtank which normally houses the pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having in mind the above and otherobjects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiments of theinvention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enablethose skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation,construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a fragmentary, front elevational view, in section, ofan aquarium tank provided with a pump pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a fragmentary, front elevational view, in section, ofa second embodiment of the present invention, showing a major portion ofthe pump extending through the bottom portion of the aquarium tank onwhich the pump is mounted;

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary, front elevational view, in section, ofa third embodiment of the present invention, showing the pumpcooperating with a filtering device within the aquarium tank;

FIG. 4 represents a fragmentary, front elevational view, in section, ofa fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing the pumpcooperating with a modified filtering device within the aquarium tank;

FIG. 5 represents a front elevational view, in section, of a fifthembodiment of the present invention, showing the pump cooperating with afiltering device externally mounted above the aquarium tank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS is provided with a laterallyextending annular flange 14 having apertures therein. The flange 14 issecured to the bottom wall 12 by conventional screw means 16 which arereceived in the flange apertures and threaded into the bottom wall 12.The bottom wall 12 is provided with an opening 18 to receivetherethrough the electrical power cord 13 of the pump 20, the cord 13being connectionable to an electrical power source (not shown).

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, showing anaquarium tank 10A provided with the pump 20. The piston housing 22 andthe annular housing 30 are formed from a non-magnetically attractedmaterial preferably plastic. The piston housing 22 is closed at one endby a member 21 which is secured thereto by conventional means, to sealthe bottom portion thereof. The piston housing 22 is provided with anopening 23 which defines both an intake opening and a discharge opening,the function of which will be set forth hereinbelow.

The piston housing 22 receives a piston 24. The piston 24, when not perse fabricated of a magnetically attracted material, includes a sleeve 25fabricated of such material appropriately secured, as by friction fit,within the piston 24. The piston housing 22 and the piston 24 arepreferably of a cylindrical configuration, with the piston 24 having asmaller diameter so that the internal surface of the housing 22 isslightly spaced from the outer surface of the piston 24 to efiectivelyconfine the piston 24 to a prescribed path during the reciprocatingmovements thereof.

The piston 24 is provided with an axial bore 26 terminating in a smalldiameter opening 27 in the conically shaped end portion 28. The otherend portion of the-piston 24 is opened at 29, the function of theseopenings 27, 2 will be discussed hereinbelow.

A bottom portion of the cylindrical wall of the piston housing 22 formsan inner wall of the annular housing 30 which is preferably formedintegrally with the piston housing 22. The annular housing 30 defines awaterproof, sealed compartment 32 for a conventional magnetic fieldproducing coil, diagrammatically illustrated and designated 34 in thedrawings. A permanent ferrite magnet 36 is spaced from the coil 34. Apole piece (not shown) is strategically located between the lower endportion of the coil 34 and the inner wall of the annular housing 30. Thecoil 34 is electrically connected to the power cord 13. A more detaileddescription of the contents of the annular housing 30, including thecoil 34, magnet 36 and pole piece, is set forth in the abovementionedapplication, No. 754,429, to which reference may be made, wherein thefunction thereof will be discussed hereinbelow.

The bottom wall 12A of the aquarium tank A is provided with an opening18A as large as the diameter of the annular housing 30 to receivetherethrough the pump 20, wherein the annular flange 14, which extendslaterally from the annular housing 34), has a larger diameter than theopening 18A so that the flange 14 is disposed outside the tank 10A toposition the pump 29 within the tank 16A. The flange 14 and the bottomwall 12A are provided with aligned apertures to receive conventionalscrew means 16A which coact with conventional nut means 17 to secure theflange 14 to the bottom wall 12A. Preferably, conventional sealing rings15, which are also provided with aligned apertures to receive thescrew-means 16A, are disposed on the annular housing 30, beingpositioned between the heads of the screw means 16A and the bottom wall12A, and between the bottom wall 12A and the flange 14 to seal theinterior of the aquarium tank 10A. Also, conventional bearing washers 19are disposed on the screw means 16A between the flange l4 and the nutmeans 17.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, showing anaquarium tank 1013 provided with the pump 20 and a filtering device 40.In this embodiment, the bottom wall 128 of the aquarium tank 168 isprovided with an opening 188 as large as the diameter of the pistonhousing 22 to receive the pump 20, wherein the annular housing 30 has alarger diameter than the opening 18B so that the annular housing 30 isdisposed outside the tank 103.

A portion of the piston housing 22 is externally threaded at 38 toreceive an internally threaded member 39 to secure the pump 20 to thebottom wall 12B. Preferably, conventional sealing rings B disposed onthe piston housing 22, being positioned between the threaded member 39and the bottom wall 128, and between the bottom wall 128 and the annularhousing 30 to seal the interior of the aquarium tank MB.

The filtering device 40 includes a receptacle 42 having a bottom wall Mprovided with an opening 45 therein to receive the upper portion of thepiston hous' ing 22. An annular member 46 provided with an opening 48 isdisposed within the opening 45. The annular member 46 is also providedwith laterally extending flanges 49 which define a groove therebetweento receive the bottom wall 44 therein to secure the annular member 46 tothe bottom wall 44. The opening 48 is substantially equal to thediameter of the piston housing 22, whereby the annular member 46 ismounted on the piston housing 22, preferably press fitted, to secure thereceptacle 42 to the pump 20 to thereby position the filtering device 40within the aquarium tank 103.

A platform 50 is disposed within the receptacle 40. The platform 50includes a horizontal wall 56 provided with a plurality of perforationsor slots 58, and wall means 60 extending downwardly from the wall 56 andresting on the bottom wall 44 to space the wall 56' from the bottom wall44. The wall 56 extends across the interior of the receptacle 42, fromsidewall-to-sidewall, to define an upper compartment 52 and a lowercompartment 54. The wall 56 is also provided with an upwardly extendingconical section 62, centrally located thereon. The conical section 62 isprovided with an opening to receive a tube 64 therein, the conicalsection opening being substantially in axial alignment with the opening23 in the piston housing 22.

The tube 64 is secured by conventional means to the conical section 62,preferably by being press fitted. The tube 64 has one end 66 extendingdownwardly into the piston housing, the end 66 being provided with anopening 68. The opening 68 has a mouth larger than the opening 27 of thepiston 24. The other end 70 extends upwardly and out of the receptacle50. The tube 64 is substantially in axial alignment with the pistonhousing 22 and therefore, with the piston 24.

The receptacle 42 is provided with a cover 72 on the upper portionthereof. The cover 72 is provided with a plurality of perforations orslots 74, and wall means 76 extending downwardly therefrom to secure thecover 72 to the receptacle 42. The cover 72 is also provided with acentrally located opening to receive and position the tube 6d therein,the tube 64 being secured by conventional means to the cover 72,preferably by being press fitted.

A layer of filtering material 78, which .may be selected from a widerange of materials having waterfiltering properties, is disposed withinthe compartment 52 of the receptacle 42, the filtering material 78resting on the platform 50.

When the aquarium tank 108 is filled with water 80, the water 80 willflow through the perforations 74 in the cover 72 into the compartment 52of the receptacle 42. The water 89 also will flow through the filteringmaterial 78 where it cleared, and through the perforations 58 in theplatform 5i into the compartment 54. The water 39 will then fill thechamber 63 defined by the conical section 62, and flow around the tube64 into the opening 23 of the piston housing 22, and fill the interiorof the piston housing 22 including the bore 26 of the piston 24. The end'70 of the tube 64 may either be above or below the water surface. ifthe end 70 is above the water surface, then only that portion of thetube 64 below the water surface will be filled with water, as waterseeks its own level. If the end 70 is below the water surface, then theentire tube 64 will be filled with water.

As generally understood, and in accordance with the operationcontemplated by the present invention, coil 34 is electrically energizedso as to produce magnetic fields of alternating polarity which has theoperative effect of producing, in a well understood manner, verticallyreciprocating movements in the piston 24. That is, piston 24 submergedin the water 80 within its housing 22, occupies a starting clearanceposition relative to the opening 68, and upon operation of the coil 34,the piston 24 is actuated through an upward stroke P to an adjacentposition in closer proximity to the opening 68. At the end of the upwardstroke P of the piston 24, at which time the piston 24 is slightlyspaced from the tube 64, the reversal of polarity of the field producedby the coil 34 occurs and is effective of producing movement of thepiston 24 through a downward stroke R to its initial starting clearanceposition.

The mode of operation of the pump may be explained as follows: Duringthe movement of the piston 24 through the upward stroke P towards theadjacent opening 68, the volume of water between the piston 24 and thetube 64 is displaced and flows partly into the opening 68 and partlythrough the small opening 27 in the piston end portion 28 into thelarger bore 26 to fill the space below in the piston housing 22 vacatedby the piston 24. When the piston 24 is reversed and moves through thedownward stroke R, the volume of water within the bore 26 and within thespace below the piston 24 is displaced, and because the opening 27 issmaller than the bore 26, a jet of water issues out of the small opening27. This jet of water is directed into the mouth of the adjacent opening68 of the tube 64, which is substantially in axial alignment with theopening 68 as stated above, causing a corresponding displacement of avolume of water within the tube 64.

The momentum imparted to the volume of water on the downward stroke R ofthe piston 24 causes the volume of water to continue up the tube 64. Theacceleration of the volume of water tends to be reduced due to thegravity acting on the water column of the tube 64. The next upwardstroke P of the piston 29a displaces an additional volume of water whichtends to slow down the return of the volume of water within the tube 64to its original position.

However, the volume of water is again caused to move up the tube 64 bythe next jet of water issued on the following downward stroke R of thepiston 24, which occurs before the volume of water has time to flow backdown the tube 64 to its original position. This pump action occurs overand over again, so that a succession of jets of water enables the piston24 to pump the volume of water up the tube 24, ultimately causing waterto continuously exit from the opening in the end 76 of the tube 64 forflow into the water body 84) of the aquarium tank 103.

The above pumping action causes the water 80 to be drawn into the pistonhousing 22 from the chamber 63 of the compartment 54, this water 80having been cleared by the filtering materim 78 in the compartment 52.As the water 80 is being drawn into the pump, more cleared water iscaused to pass from compartment 52 to compartment 54 through theperforations 58. This above action causes the water 80 to flow throughthe perforations 74 in the cover 72 into the compartment 52 of thereceptacle 42 for filtration. As shown, the water Si) is circulated byflowing from the aquarium tank 108 into the filtering device, passingthrough the filtering device 40, and then being pumped back into thebody of water in the aquarium tank 108.

The force fit, securing the tube 64 to the conical section 62 and thecover 72, does not pfeclude making adm justment movements in the tube 64through a range of positions of movement closer or further away from thepiston 24. When tube 64 is projected closer to piston 24, the volume ofwater 80 displaced through it during successive strokes of the piston 24is at a maximum, and of course the reverse is true as the distanceseparating the opening 68 and the piston 24 is increased. This providesselective control over the volume or rate of water being pumped, andtherefore over the volume being filtered by the filtering device 40,permitting the hobbyist to adapt the flow of water to suppress noise,minimize disturbance to the environment and achieve other benefits.

Reference is now made to a fourth embodiment of this invention, asillustrated in FIG. 4.. In this embodiment the aquarium tank 108, thepump 20 and the tube 64 of FIG. 3 are shown with a different filteringdevice 40A.

The filtering device 40A includes a horizontal partition 50A having ahorizontal wall 56A provided with a plurality of perforations or slots58A, and support means 60A extending downwardly from the partition wall56A and resting on the bottom wall 44 of the aquarium tank 10B to spacethe partition wall 56A from the bottom wall 44. The partition 50A mayeither extend completely across the interior of the aquarium tank 10B,from sidewall-tosidewall, or across a portion thereof. The partition 50Adefines a lower compartment 54A, where in the latter case, the supportmeans 60A cooperate with the partition wall 56A to define thecompartment 54A.

The piston housing of the pump 20 is disposed in the compartment 54A.The partition 50A is also provided with an opening to receive the tube64 therein, the partition opening being substantially in axial alignmentwith the opening 23 in the piston housing 22. A layer of conventionalfiltering material 78A is disposed on the upper surface of the partitionwall 56A, with the end of the tube 64 extending above the upper surfaceof the partition Wall 56A.

The pumping action of the pump 20 is the same as set forth hereinabove;however as the water is being drawn in the pump 20, the water 80 iscaused to pass from the aquarium tank 108 to the compartment 54A throughthe perforations 58A. This action causes the water 80 to flow throughthe filtering material 78A for filtration. As shown, the water 80 iscirculated by flowing through the filtering device 46A into the pistonhousing 22 of the pump 20, and then being pumped back through the tube64 into the body of water in the aquarium tank 108.

Reference is now made to a fifth embodiment of this invention, asillustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the aquarium tank 10B and thepump 20 of FIGS. 3 and 4 are shown with a modified tube 64A and adifferent filtering device 408.

The aquarium tank 103 is provided with a cover 82 having a receptacle 84disposed thereon. The filtering device 405 is disposed within thereceptacle 84.

The filtering device 40B includes a receptacle 428 provided with supportmeans 86 to position the receptacle 4213 on the upper surface of thecover 82 and also provided with conduit means 88 which extendsdownwardly through an opening in the cover 82 so that there is flowcommunication between the interior of the receptacle 42B and theinterior of the aquarium tank MB. The support means 86 are provided withopenings 90 which cooperate with an opening 92 in the cover 82 so thatthere is flow communication between the interior of the cover receptacle84 and the interior of the aquarium tank B, the function of which willbe set forth hereinbelow.

A platform 50B is disposed within the filter device receptacle 42B. Theplatform 508 includes a horizontal wall 56B provided with a plurality ofperforations or slots 58B, and wall means 608 extending downwardly fromthe wall 56B and resting on the bottom wall 44B of the receptacle 42B tospace the wall 568 from the wall 448. The wall 568 extends across theinterior of the receptacle 42B, from sidewall-to-sidewall, to define anupper compartment 528 and a lower compartment 5413. A layer ofconventional filtering material 783 is disposed within the compartment52B, the filtering material resting on the platform 50B.

A housing 100 is secured to the upper portion of the piston housing 22,preferably by friction fit. The housing 100 is provided with a pluralityof small perforations 102 which allow the water to flow into the housing100 but prevent the passage of fish or other aquarium inhabitantstherein. The upper portion of the housing 100 is provided with anopening to receive the tube 64A therein, the housing opening beingsubstantially in axial alignment with the opening 23 in the pistonhousing 22.

The tube 64A is secured to the housing 100, preferably by friction fit,so that the end 66A of the tube extends downwardly into the pistonhousing 22, the end 66A being provided with an opening 68A having amouth larger than the opening 27 of the piston 24. The other end 70Aextends upwardly through an opening in the cover 82 and is hook-shapedto be in a position over the filtering device 40B so that any waterdischarged from the opening 71 will flow downwardly into the compartment52B of the filter device receptacle 428. The tube 64A may also besecured to the cover 82, preferably by friction fit.

The pumping action of the pump is the same as set forth hereinabove;however, as the water 80 is being drawn into the pump 20, the water 80is caused to pass from the aquarium tank 108 to the interior of thehousing 100 through perforations 102. The water 80 is pumped up the tube64A and then discharged into the filtering device 408. The water 80passes through the filtering material 78B to clear the water 80, andthen flows by way of gravity through the perforations 58B into thecompartment 543. From the compartment 5413, the water 80 flows again byway of gravity through the conduit means 88 back into the body of waterin the aquarium tank 108. As shown, the water 80' is circulated byflowing through the housing 100 into the piston housing 22 of the pump20, and then being pumped into the filtering device 408 from which thewater 89 passes back into the aquarium tank 10B.

If the water should overflow the filtering device M33 and flow from thecompartment 52B into the cover receptacle 84, the overflow water wouldpass through the openings 90 in the support means 86. Then, the overflowwater would flow by way of gravity through the opening 92 in the cover82 back into the aquarium tank 10B.

It is noted that each of the filtering devices 40, 40A, and 403 shown inFIGS. 3, 4 and 5, respectively, may be used with the pump arrangementshown in either FIG. I or FIG. 2.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of myinvention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to beconstrued as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank provided with afront wall, a rear wall, opposing side walls and a bottom wall tocontain a volume of water therein, said aquarium tank being providedwith a filtering device cooperating with said pump for clearing thewater in said aquarium tank, said pump being disposed adjacent one ofsaid walls of said aquarium tank with a portion of said pump extendingthrough an opening provided in said one wall, means positioning saidpump adjacent to said one wall, said pump comprising a piston housingprovided with a piston therein, a tube disposed in said aquarium tank,said tube being provided with an inlet opening in alignment with saidpiston and an outlet opening constructed and arranged to be in fluidcommunication with said filtering device, and means for moving saidpiston through strokes between a position removed from said inletopening of said tube and an alternate position in closer proximitythereto such that during each of said strokes away from said alternateposition an amount of water within said piston housing is forced intosaid tube, whereby said amount of water by displacement causes a fluidflow through the filtering device to clear the water.

2. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 1, wherein said piston housing is disposed within said aquariumtank, said positioning means securing said pump to said aquarium tankone wall.

3. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 2, wherein said aquarium tank one wall is said bottom wall of saidaquarium tank.

4. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 3, wherein said positioning securing means includes a laterallyextending annular flange disposed on said pump, said flange beingsecured to an inner surface of said bottom wall disposed within saidaquarium tank, said opening in said bottom wall receiving therethroughan electrical power cord of said pump for connection to an electricalpower source to provide said means for moving said piston.

5. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 3, wherein said positioning securing means includes a laterallyextending annular flange disposed on a bottom portion of said pump, saidopening in said bottom wall receiving therethrough said bottom portionof said pump with said flange being secured to an outer surface of saidbottom wall disposed outside said aquarium tank.

6. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 3, wherein said means for moving said piston are disposed in awaterproof housing, said waterproof housing being disposed around alower portion of said piston housing, said opening in said bottom wallreceiving therethrough said piston housing wherein said opening issmaller than said waterproof housing so that said waterproof housing isadjacent an outer surface of said bottom wall disposed outside saidaquarium tank, said positioning securing means being disposed on saidpiston housing within said aquarium tank so that said bottom wall isdisposed between said positioning securing means and said waterproofhousing, thereby securing said pump to said bottom wall.

7. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 6, wherein said piston housing is externally threaded, saidpositioning securing means including an internally threaded member whichis threaded onto said piston housing to secure said pump to said bottomwall.

8. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 1, wherein said filtering device for clearing the water isdisposed within said aquarium tank, said tube outlet opening beingdisposed above said filtering device.

9. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 8, wherein said filtering device includes a horizontally disposedplatform defining an upper and lower compartment, said platform beingprovided with a plurality of perforations to allow the water to flowthere-through, wherein cleared water flows through said perforationsinto said lower compartment, said piston housing receiving the clearedwater from said lower compartment wherein said piston forces the clearedwater into said tube, so that said outlet opening of said tubedischarges the cleared water into said aquarium tank.

10. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 9, wherein said platform is provided with an aperture to receivetherethrough said tube.

11. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 1, wherein said filtering device for clearing the water isdisposed outside said aquarium tank, said tube extending outside saidaquarium tank, said tube outlet opening being disposed above saidfiltering device for discharging the water into said filtering device.

12. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim. 11, wherein said filtering device includes a horizontallydisposed platform defining an upper and lower compartment, said platformbeing provided with a plurality'of perforations to allow the water toflow therethrough, wherein said tube discharges uncleared water intosaid upper compartment and cleared water flows through said perforationsinto said lower compartment, said filtering device being provided withmeans to discharge the cleared water from said lower compartment intosaid aquarium tank.

13. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 12 wherein said filterin device rs dispose above said aquariumtank, sar

means to discharge the cleared water into said aquarium tank usinggravity to cause the cleared water to flow into said aquarium tank.

14. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according toclaim 11, wherein a housing connects said tube to said piston housing,said connecting housing being provided with a plurality of smallperforations to allow water to flow into said connecting housing fromwhere the water flows into said piston housing, but prevents passage ofaquarium inhabitants therein.

15. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein one opening of saidpump defines both an intake opening and a discharge opening, said oneopening of said pump being disposed within said aquarium tank.

16. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein said filteringdevice is disposed within said aquarium tank.

17. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein said one wall issaid bottom wall of said aquarium tank.

18. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein one opening of saidpump defines both an intake opening and a discharge opening, said oneopening of said pump being disposed within said aquarium tank forcoacting with said filtering device which is also disposed within saidaquarium tank, said one wall being said bottom wall of said aquariumtank.

1. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank provided with afront wall, a rear wall, opposing side walls and a bottom wall tocontain a volume of water therein, said aquarium tank being providedwith a filtering device cooperating with said pump for clearing thewater in said aquarium tank, said pump being disposed adjacent one ofsaid walls of said aquarium tank with a portion of said pump extendingthrough an opening provided in said one wall, means positioning saidpump adjacent to said one wall, said pump comprising a piston housingprovided with a piston therein, a tube disposed in said aquarium tank,said tube being provided with an inlet opening in alignment with saidpiston and an outlet opening constructed and arranged to be in fluidcommunication with said filtering device, and means for moving saidpiston through strokes between a position removed from said inletopening of said tube and an alternate position in closer proximitythereto such that during each of said strokes away from said alternateposition an amount of water within said piston housing is forced intosaid tube, whereby said amount of water by displacement causes a fluidflow through the filtering device to clear the water.
 2. A valvelesspump in combination with an aquarium tank according to claim 1, whereinsaid piston housing is disposed within said aquarium tank, saidpositioning means securing said pump to said aquarium tank one wall. 3.A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according to claim2, wherein said aquarium tank one wall is said bottom wall of saidaquarium tank.
 4. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tankaccording to claim 3, wherein said positioning securing means includes alaterally extending annular flange disposed on said pump, said flangebeing secured to an inner surface of said bottom wall disposed withinsaid aquarium tank, said opening in said bottom wall receivingtherethrough an electrical power cord of said pump for connection to anelectrical power source to provide said means for moving said piston. 5.A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according to claim3, wherein said positioning securing means includes a laterallyextending annular flange disposed on a bottom portion of said pump, saidopening in said bottom wall receiving therethrough said bottom portionof said pump with said flange being secured to an outer surface of saidbottom wall disposed outside said aquarium tank.
 6. A valveless pump incombination with an aquarium tank according to claim 3, wherein saidmeans for moving said piston are disposed in a waterproof housing, saidwaterproof housing being disposed around a lower portion of said pistonhousing, said opening in said bottom wall receiving therethrough saidpiston housing wherein said opening is smaller than said waterproofhousing so that said waterproof housIng is adjacent an outer surface ofsaid bottom wall disposed outside said aquarium tank, said positioningsecuring means being disposed on said piston housing within saidaquarium tank so that said bottom wall is disposed between saidpositioning securing means and said waterproof housing, thereby securingsaid pump to said bottom wall.
 7. A valveless pump in combination withan aquarium tank according to claim 6, wherein said piston housing isexternally threaded, said positioning securing means including aninternally threaded member which is threaded onto said piston housing tosecure said pump to said bottom wall.
 8. A valveless pump in combinationwith an aquarium tank according to claim 1, wherein said filteringdevice for clearing the water is disposed within said aquarium tank,said tube outlet opening being disposed above said filtering device. 9.A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tank according to claim8, wherein said filtering device includes a horizontally disposedplatform defining an upper and lower compartment, said platform beingprovided with a plurality of perforations to allow the water to flowthere-through, wherein cleared water flows through said perforationsinto said lower compartment, said piston housing receiving the clearedwater from said lower compartment wherein said piston forces the clearedwater into said tube, so that said outlet opening of said tubedischarges the cleared water into said aquarium tank.
 10. A valvelesspump in combination with an aquarium tank according to claim 9, whereinsaid platform is provided with an aperture to receive therethrough saidtube.
 11. A valveless pump in combination with an aquarium tankaccording to claim 1, wherein said filtering device for clearing thewater is disposed outside said aquarium tank, said tube extendingoutside said aquarium tank, said tube outlet opening being disposedabove said filtering device for discharging the water into saidfiltering device.
 12. A valveless pump in combination with an aquariumtank according to claim 11, wherein said filtering device includes ahorizontally disposed platform defining an upper and lower compartment,said platform being provided with a plurality of perforations to allowthe water to flow therethrough, wherein said tube discharges unclearedwater into said upper compartment and cleared water flows through saidperforations into said lower compartment, said filtering device beingprovided with means to discharge the cleared water from said lowercompartment into said aquarium tank.
 13. A valveless pump in combinationwith an aquarium tank according to claim 12, wherein said filteringdevice is disposed above said aquarium tank, said means to discharge thecleared water into said aquarium tank using gravity to cause the clearedwater to flow into said aquarium tank.
 14. A valveless pump incombination with an aquarium tank according to claim 11, wherein ahousing connects said tube to said piston housing, said connectinghousing being provided with a plurality of small perforations to allowwater to flow into said connecting housing from where the water flowsinto said piston housing, but prevents passage of aquarium inhabitantstherein.
 15. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein oneopening of said pump defines both an intake opening and a dischargeopening, said one opening of said pump being disposed within saidaquarium tank.
 16. An aquarium device according to claim 1, wherein saidfiltering device is disposed within said aquarium tank.
 17. An aquariumdevice according to claim 1, wherein said one wall is said bottom wallof said aquarium tank.
 18. An aquarium device according to claim 1,wherein one opening of said pump defines both an intake opening and adischarge opening, said one opening of said pump being disposed withinsaid aquarium tank for coacting with said filtering device which is alsodisposed within said aquarium tank, said one wall being said bottom wallof said aquariuM tank.